It is hard to believe that such a national institution as a nice cup of tea had not been heard of in Britain before the 1660s. Find out about the cultivation of tea, how it came to Britain and the rituals that have developed around its making and drinking.

Time: Daily 10.00am – 5.00pm (during The Tall Ships Races, 10.00am – 7.00pm, 10^th August 5.00pm)   Saturday 24^th July – Sunday 17^th October

They sing traditional shanties and forebitters, ballads and love songs in beautiful four part harmony, with delicacy and passion and precision. They have appeared at festivals throughout Britain, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Norway, Ireland and the Channel Islands

The artwork for the posters was developed by Ken Dunn from photographs, taken by himself, of the Headland area, Seaton Carew, Marina and a view from the top of Christchurch Tower. The posters are based on the Art Deco Railway posters of the 1930's/40's and 50's. The Art Deco movement comprised a mix of decorative styles including simplification, distortion, abstraction and the use of intense colours. The backgrounds used in the posters are easily recognisable and well-known areas of Hartlepool, and the figures comprise a mixture of true Art Deco-style 1930's/40's figurative styles and fashions alongside more current fashion styles. Three of the posters have been done in a 'composite' style, consisting of a number of well-known local landmarks arranged together to form imaginative compositions.

To mark the coming of The Tall Ships Races and the Georgian celebrations at Hartlepool’s Maritime Experience, the exhibition will focus on the depiction of fighting ships during the reign of George III. Split into two themes the exhibition will look at British naval power at the height of this period and the emergence of a distinctive national style of marine painting. Please check for galelry opening times: 01429 - 869706